Cops testify beeper message ties defendant to killing

Pauline Bell

Wednesday, May 14, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Gregory Leonard sought assistance in moving the dead body of Tony Antee from under his bed, a Metro Police detective testified during Leonard's murder trial.

Detective Brian Skala told a District Court jury Tuesday that he heard the message left by Leonard on the beeper of Jesus Cintron, a friend and co-worker.

The message indicated the defendant needed assistance in moving a body and if he didn't get it, "more people would be killed," Skala said on direct examination by prosecutor Peggy Leen.

But on cross-examination by defense attorney David Schieck, the detective acknowledged the sound clarity on the beeper was poor and that he had to listen to the message several times to make it out.

Leonard, 32, is standing trial in District Judge Nancy Becker's courtroom on a murder charge in the Jan. 22 slaying of the 24-year-old Antee, whose body was found the following day under a bed in Leonard's apartment. Leonard was a maintenance man at the Mark Twain Apartments at 905 E. Twain Ave. and had an apartment there.

Homicide Detective David Mesinar testified about the same beeper message, but his recollection wasn't as specific as Skala's. He said a voice he recognized as Leonard's told Cintron to call him at a specified telephone number "before I kill 10 more people."

"I understood the words, but I didn't understand the true meaning" of the message until later, Mesinar said. He also acknowledged the sound quality was poor and he had to listen to make out the message.

Cintron has testified that Leonard called him the night of the killing and asked him for help in moving a body from under his bed. He said he reported the incident to police.

Leonard also is charged in the strangulation death of Thomas Williams, 64, at the Twain Avenue apartment complex last November. The trial in that case is set for Aug. 11 before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty in both cases.